Computer Cleaning and restoration

It's True!  A surprising percentage of computer problems can be caused by something as simple as dust and grime inside the computer case.  Even a thin layer of dust inside your machine can cause the computer to refuse to boot.  By simply keeping your computer clean and free of dust inside and out, you can significantly increase the life of your machine.

But how can something as simple as dust and grime cause loss of data and the early demise of your computer.  The answer is simple:  Corrosion and Overheating.  Computer components are complex electronic devices, sensitive to very minute fluctuations of voltage.  A thin layer of dust can cause components to corrode or short out, causing everything from minor glitches in performance to total shut-down.  Regularly cleaning your computer inside and out, can help eliminate this kind of malfunction and protect the life of your computer.  In especially dusty or high-particulate environments such as a wood shop and machine shop, computer issues can be minimized by containing computers in ventilated cabinets, dust protected offices, or enclosed in specially designed dust covers.  Keep in mind, it's very important not to restrict cooling airflow through the computer.

How does dust get inside your computer?

Ever seen those TV commercials for the hand-held dusters that 'attract dust'?  They use the same principal to collect dust that causes the computer to accumulate dust inside the box.  It's very effective for your coffee table.  Not so good for your computer motherboard.

Two main factors are responsible for this dust collection.  Air movement, and electricity.  Basically, the very system that keeps your computer alive, can also lead to its premature demise.  As the cooling air fans spin, they create a flow of air over the critical components of your computer, taking with it the heat generated by those components.  Unfiltered air contains the microscopic particles of common house-dust that you see when you look at a sunbeam through an open window.  As that dust flows over the computer components, the electrical fields generated by those components acts as a magnet, attracting dust and other particles.

How does dust cause computer malfunctions?

Basically over time, a thin layer of dust collects over critical computer components.  This can act as an insulating effect over heat-dissipating components like fans and heat-sinks, causing a decrease in heat dissipation and in increase in heat.  Over-heating will eventually let out the smoke that resides in all computer components.  You never want to let the smoke out.  Common house-dust contains particles of human skin, dust mite feces, and clothing fibers.  In more hostile environments, dust can also contain metal particles, concrete and wood dust, or chemical components.  In addition to heat collection, the dust may contain small amounts of moisture that can be a significant contributor in corrosion and shorting.

Cleaning your PC is an essential step to safe computing and prolonging the life of your machine AND your Data.

WARNING:  CIGARETTE SMOKE IS HAZARDOUS TO YOUR COMPUTER'S HEALTH!

The adverse effects on your own health from cigarette smoke has never been a secret.  However, the adverse effects of your COMPUTER'S health is a little less known.

Cigarette smoke is essentially a combination of carbon, chemical by-products and moisture!  Basically house-dust on steroids that can collect and eat away at computer components.

It also can cause a nasty discoloration of external computer parts, render CD/DVD/Blu-Ray players useless (by contaminating the sensitive laser emitter), do harm to LCD monitor screens, and just make everything smell bad.